Walter Watts, the University of Utah's starting center, might be able to play in this week's Western Athletic Conference post-season tournament after all.
Watts' right knee swelled after he twisted it against BYU on Saturday night. The Ute medical staff became alarmed when blood was drained from the knee on Monday, but on Tuesday X-rays indicated the injury was not serious.Utah's head trainer, Bill Bean, explained the injury this way: "At the very top of the shin bone, inside the knee joint, there's a bump in the bone. There's a little tiny fracture in that bump. That's where the blood came from. It's not broken. It's just something that has to heal up, and it'll be fine. No scope will be done, as it looks now. There's a good chance of him playing in the WAC tournament. It's kind of up to Walter now. If the swelling stays down and the knee feels good, he could start practicing (Wednesday)."
Watts, a second-team all-conference pick, is Utah's second leading scorer and rebounder.
The eighth-ranked Utes, the regular season WAC champions, open WAC tournament play Thursday night against the winner of Wednesday's Air Force-San Diego State game.
- Doug Robinson